Dealing with homesickness in Dominican Republic

Being an expat in Dominican Republic can turn out to be a wonderful human, social or professional adventure... with potential moments of nostalgia and homesickness along the way.

What are your personal tips to prevent homesickness?

How do you deal with such feelings?

Are there shops or stores offering products from your home country in Dominican Republic? Or maybe venues with music and ambiance from your homeland?

Thanks for sharing your experience,

Priscilla

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

15 September 2016 21:12:19

6370 posts

Bob K

15 September 2016 21:12:19

#2

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

Yep every time I leave the DR I get homesick

Bob K

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2

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Tomas Cabrera

Serial expat

Member since 04 March 2013

Cabrera

Tomas Cabrera

19 September 2016 17:12:35

524 posts

Tomas Cabrera

19 September 2016 17:12:35

#3

524 posts

Cabrera

The answer to that is simple Bob.Don't leave.Skype & using Catalina's land line which has free calling to Canada.Tom.

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

19 September 2016 17:25:50

6370 posts

Bob K

19 September 2016 17:25:50

#4

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

I leave as infrequently as possible. IN fact up to this year (dealing with very ill moms so more trips) in 10 years I have slept 22 nights back in the USA

Bob K

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Tomas Cabrera

Serial expat

Member since 04 March 2013

Cabrera

Tomas Cabrera

19 September 2016 18:27:24

524 posts

Tomas Cabrera

19 September 2016 18:27:24

#5

524 posts

Cabrera

That's right Bob. your mom is #1.Tom.

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planner

Experts

Member since 28 December 2010

La Romana

Dominican Republic Expert

planner

20 September 2016 01:48:36

5548 posts

planner

20 September 2016 01:48:36

#6

5548 posts

La Romana

Not a thread I can help with! I have never felt homesick, this has been home from the time I arrived!!!

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

20 September 2016 02:37:20

6370 posts

Bob K

20 September 2016 02:37:20

#7

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

Like I said I get homesick when I leave here

Bob K

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frost bite

Active member

Member since 23 May 2011

san juan de la maguana

frost bite

20 September 2016 19:13:14

39 posts

frost bite

20 September 2016 19:13:14

#8

39 posts

san juan de la maguana

i dont really get homesick, this is my home, i do miss my kids but we talk often so its not so bad, i would like to say that the dominican is not for everyone, i had a friend come for the winter last year and he went back to canada after only 2 months. personally i love it here, i am never bored and consider myself fortunate to be able to live the dream, this is my paradise.

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

20 September 2016 21:02:56

6370 posts

Bob K

20 September 2016 21:02:56

#9

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

You are so right. The DR is not for everyone but when it is "right" it is sooooo "right"

10+ years and still living the dream

Bob K

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Tomas Cabrera

Serial expat

Member since 04 March 2013

Cabrera

Tomas Cabrera

21 September 2016 16:36:34

524 posts

Tomas Cabrera

21 September 2016 16:36:34

#10

524 posts

Cabrera

I love my new country!Tom.

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lasterrenas

Member

Member since 01 January 2015

Chicago

lasterrenas

04 October 2016 22:38:25

15 posts

lasterrenas

04 October 2016 22:38:25

#11

15 posts

Chicago

I still come only for vacation. We have piece of land on Playa Limon near Miches and we will build a House to retire in DR.....Every time I visit I fill like I'm home......I'm Bosnian American and I love USA and Chicago,love my Old Country but I can't wait to move to DR.....

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angiecinto

Active member

Member since 07 June 2015

Buenos Aires

angiecinto

06 October 2016 00:32:15

49 posts

angiecinto

06 October 2016 00:32:15

#12

49 posts

Buenos Aires

Hello my dear Bob, I have a question: Do you think is a good idea to transport a car from USA, o is better to buy one in DR ?

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

06 October 2016 11:28:50

6370 posts

Bob K

06 October 2016 11:28:50

#13

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

That is a tough one. If you are bringing a car that meets the requirements for import and you are doing it with your new residency (free from taxes more or less) then bringing one may be a viable option. If you are not using your one time exoneration than it is very expensive to do so I probably would not bring it. We did bring one in with our tax exoneration.

Remember cars here new or used are about 30%-35% more than they would be back in the US. Also many used cars you would buy here have the odometers rolled back (a lot) or have bad titles (junk, flood, etc) back in the US. So be very careful on a used care here and use CarFax before you buy.

Bob K

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planner

Experts

Member since 28 December 2010

La Romana

Dominican Republic Expert

planner

06 October 2016 12:20:53

5548 posts

planner

06 October 2016 12:20:53

#14

5548 posts

La Romana

AND be aware that many American cars are not common here. Thus finding parts can be both frustrating and expensive! In many ways you are better to purchase a more common type vehicle here!

Bob gives good advice about CarFax - use it. Dealers here cannot be trusted! Have a mechanic YOU know check the vehicle, use CarFax and even then be very cautious!

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angiecinto

Active member

Member since 07 June 2015

Buenos Aires

angiecinto

06 October 2016 17:04:15

49 posts

angiecinto

06 October 2016 17:04:15

#15

49 posts

Buenos Aires

Thank you Bob

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Bob K

DR & US Expert

Member since 25 June 2007

Sosua/Cabarete

Bob K

07 October 2016 11:30:52

6370 posts

Bob K

07 October 2016 11:30:52

#16

6370 posts

Sosua/Cabarete

You are welcome and good luck

Bob K

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Glauriel

Contributor

Member since 13 September 2013

Glauriel

08 October 2016 16:44:01

132 posts

Glauriel

08 October 2016 16:44:01

#17

132 posts

Hi good posts as always.

Re; Loneliness. to be honest we love it here and going back and forth is a killer! When back with the family I want to be here, when here there are times that I really, really want to pick up the phone and call a friend. I do not have that option here and that is very difficult at times. We have have been adopted by a Dominican family which is great and we are very grateful but sometimes I wish I had a girlfriend or two from the states to chat with about old times. Granted we have only been here off and on for a year. This is home now, we have our house here, we shipped all our remaining personal items here....Perhaps in time we will make more friends here and that will compensate for not having my others of many, many years....

PS Must say too that perhaps looking in the wrong places but to date finding it hard to locate other expats with similar interests and values in my area that is. Can't speak for other areas. Starting some volunteer work to try and change that!